TIDBITS

Lady shared u der standing it was about application not just information
KNOWLEDGE VS EXPERIENCE
Matt 28 “teaching them to - obey!”
- “Knowledge puffs up” (Christians always studying / great knowledge)
 But experience humbles
E.G. As a young man / intern I was sure I could do it better than the senior pastor
> Then I became a senior pastor! (Humbling experience!) Not as easy as I thought!

- If we keep teaching people things without expecting them to apply and do, we will
simply raise proud Christians.
E.G. Like spoilt children who's parents do everything for them

YOUNG PEOPLE LEADING? (“Don't let a novice lead”)

- Must understand different levels.
 You're not making them elders)
NB. If it doesn't work the only fruit lost was only attached to them anyway!

CORRECT MINISTRY FOCUS

- Thank you to Michael (excellent young man)
 I don't see the crowd now (fickle) – I see / focus on sons / daughters
Challenging thought: I think some pastors do too much “ministry”?
Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
 Its about mobilising others for ministry
 So glad I did E.G. Michael / Five new groups this week

jethro principle 1 in 10
Hillsong dashboard
Our experience
Japan / Taipei - 5 SNL leaders = 50 people- experienced / known connectors replaced with
inexperienced
Have come to point that I'm convinced that every time I add an effective leader I will grow
by 10

PRACTICE GIOS “Circle of Life”

Everyone gathered around in a circle
Pre prepared leaders share from edge of circle all elements of the group. Leader corrects
any teaching or observation without personal application as they go if needed eg. Say “I,
me” not “we, the church etc”
Stage two:
An inner circle group “performs” a Life Group for observation

BYTE
AUTHORITY IN DISCIPLESHIP
(Vs 18) All authority given to who???
- Not human. Not control (insecurity)
- Whole point of Word / Prayer / Purity IS to bring Jesus authority into a disciples
life. If Jesus is at the center you won't have to fight / control them
> If the DNA is Jesus then it'll become like him

BYTE
- Discipleship is not about making better Christians.
Matt 28. They were the only Christians, therefore discipleship was a win the lost
thing.
Cannot separate evangelism from discipleship. Think process.

BYTE
Ongoing conversation about discipleship
Matt 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light.”
- 'Yoke' of the Rabbi > teaching
E.G. John 8 woman in adultery "What do you (yoke) say?
Simple Christianity. Not easy, but not complicated
"Viral" (E.G. Internet video) not "Virus" (Undesirable)

GENUINE FRUIT IS PEOPLE NOT GIFT

John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My
disciples.
Q. What is this fruit? ('Disciple' tree) Matt 28
NB. Beware inaccurate definitions of Christian fruitfulness. ("I prophesy" / preach
etc.)
> But that's a gift given not a fruit produced.
E.G. The vineyard owner coming to visit and you showing him the tractor and the
shovel.
> "They're the tools I gave you to produce the fruit boofhead - where are my
grapes?"
Gifts of grace. They belong to him already.

Some of Jesus final words to the Father:

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those
whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
- After all meetings, crowds, miracles, healing.
> Measured his own fruit with people. Not crowds, but those he'd personally led

NB. One of the key indicators of the relational health of a small group is what they do
between meetings
E.G. Love to hear stuff they do with their guys that's just for fun. (Sport / house
parties)
E.G. Tension in the team. Deans comments at State Conf. so took them wild pig
hunting.

Disciple personally
E.G. Openness. (Matty K n singleness)
> Discipleship is what YOU make it. Go for (Fun / Openess / genuine concern)

Now dealing with a generation with attention span the size of a Gnat

KEEPING IT SIMPLE
E.G. Prayer. We're at risk of digging ourselves into a hole that isolates us from the
people we're called to reach, and develop / train. Entry level too unrealistic.

1 Timothy 4:12-16
E.G. Word. Guilt shows in determination to read whole chapter after God has already
spoken. The essence is not reading your bible. It's hearing from God! E.G. First
church / centuries before printing press, the average Christian didn't even have
access to a bible - even if they did read. Have we enshrined the written word over
the living word. Logos V rhema.

Q. What do you do to keep a clean heart.

E.G. Outreach. Guilt driven. Intense. Stay separate rather than teaching dependence
on Holy Spirit to stay strong. Jesus model. IN world BUT not OF it. Isolation isn't
victory. He prepares a table for me int the PRESENCE of my enemies.
Every disciple making disciples